[escapedtothecountry]

It's all your fault... After reading what you lot have all been up to, and seeing what you have produced I've had a crack at Elderflower Champagne.


I currently have 6 litres in various bottles that I think looks like its gone ok. Interestingly the different bottles have very different levels of fizz whenI release the gas to prevent unwanted explosions.


Also should I expect the cloudiness to start to clear. I'm getting so tempted to try the stuff!

[Dans]

Differing amount of fizz could be to do with different seals on your bottles. When we did our first batch we used some Ikea bottles that we'd been using for wine for years. A couple of them were great but I think 3 had no fizz at all, the seals on the bottles were shot.

The sediment should drop to the bottom if you've got a good seal on the bottle. Give it a week in the bottle without releasing pressure and it should be good to try. I highly recommend keeping it in the fridge for several days (after it's had a week at room temp to build up fizz), or 20-30mins in the freezer prior to opening. If you're using flip top bottles keep your hand just over the cap when you release it, otherwise your flip top might fly across the room, it also allows you to close it again quickly if too explosive!

If you haven't chilled it enough it will be very volcanic when you open it and that will raise the sediment making it cloudier, not the end of the world but better if the sediment stays at the bottom.

Good luck!

Dans

[Greenerlife]

 


If you can bear to keep it for a while, it gets better!  i drank some I made last year and it was hic top stuff hic.  Also made rhubarb champagne and when I first opened a bottle, all that remained in it was the sediment! 

[Mammyshaz]

Been reading about this elderflower champagne and we are now ready to go picking as the flowers are blooming. Making cordial for the kids too. 
Hope it all goes as well as your lot. Thanks for the extra tips Dans

Let us know-how the taste test goes ETTC

[escapedtothecountry]

Did some cordial. I have a sweet tooth but want for me. Wife likes it so brownie points for me!

[luckylady]

Bottled my champagne this morning.  Smells delicious but no fizz.  Am I to assume from the above posts that the fizz develops once bottled?  Also made cordial last week - its all gone!     Managed to make elderflower curd using the cordial too - bit too sweet for me but OH loves it on his toast.
Dans - thanks for the PM tips re champers.  Fingers crossed all will progress well from here. 

[HelenVF]

You are making me want to try some this year!  I did try last year but didn't sterilize my equipment enough and it went mouldy


Helen